Basketball: Huntsville controls opener against Prairie Grove

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Huntsville showed Prairie Grove the benefit of a strong inside-outside game Tuesday.

Guard Maci Campbell and center Delanie Tipton combined for 32 points to lead Huntsville to a 53-40 victory over Prairie Grove in the season-opener for both teams. Campbell made five of Huntsville's 10 3-pointers and finished with 18 points.Tipton, who led Huntsville to the state finals in volleyball, dominated the inside with 14 points and 17 rebounds.

Girls

Huntsville^13^13^19^8^—^53

Prairie Grove^6^13^14^7^—^40

Huntsville (1-0): Campbell 18, Tipton 14, McCone 9, Watkins 5, Sulfridge 4, Walden 3.

Prairie Grove (0-1): Bartholomew 12, Crawford 9, Grant 6, Sapp 5, Madewell 4, Doering 4.

Boys

Huntsville^13^13^9^12^—^47

Prairie Grove^12^14^14^6^—^46

Huntsville (1-0): Eaton 26, Pemberton 12, Yarbrough 6, Bohannan 3.

Prairie Grove (0-1): Simmons 14, Pridemore 11, Moore 8, Rhodes 6, Pearson 5, Risner 2.

Huntsville took control at the outset by holding Prairie Grove to two baskets in the first quarter. The Lady Eagles led 26-19 at halftime and 45-33 after three quarters.

"We ran our offense extremely well," Huntsville coach Charles Berry said. "Maci's a good shooter. She's on every night."

Huntsville and Prairie Grove are longtime conference rivals with two of the best girls programs in the state. But the two will be separated for much of the season because of the mixed-conference districts, where schools will play against other district teams before returning to their respective conferences tournament. Huntsville will play in Class 3A/4A District 2 with teams like Valley Springs and and Bergman, while Prairie Grove plays in District 1 with teams like Elkins and Greenland.

Huntsville and Prairie Grove won't meet again until they reunite with other Class 4A schools for the conference tournament in Berryville in February. Prairie Grove played without senior Parker Lopez, who is not expected back until after Thanksgiving because of an ankle injury.

"They shot the ball extremely well," Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud said. "Every time we'd get close, they'd knock down another three. We never could get in a rhythm and part of that is our inexperience."

Huntsville led 21-9 before Prairie Grove used a late spurt to pull within five points in the second quarter. That was an improvement for the Lady Tigers, whose only baskets in the first quarter came on 3-pointers by Cassidi Sapp and Lexie Madewell. But Campbell, who made two threes early in the game, hit two more in the third quarter to help Huntsville increase its lead to 39-23.

Senior Camree Bartholomew scored 12 to lead Prairie Grove. Larisha Crawford, one of eight sophomores on the team, provided a spark with nine points off the bench.

Boys

Huntsville 47, Prairie Grove 46

Jack Eaton put Huntsville ahead for good with two free throws and finished with 26 points to lead Huntsville past Prairie Grove.

Prairie Grove had a final opportunity with 7.7 seconds left after a missed free throw by Ty Bohannan. Derek Pearson drove to the side of the basket and put up a good shot but it rolled off the rim.

Cameron Simmons led Prairie Grove with 14 points before fouling out with 48 seconds left to play.

Sports on 11/16/2016

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